Attachment for electric switches



M. C. FRANK.

ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 1917.

Patented June 27, 1922.

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IT D STATS PATENT oFFicE.

MAXWELL C. FRANK, OF PIEDMONT, CALIFORNIA.

ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent. PatentedJ une 2.7, 1922,

Application led February 7, 1917. Serial No. 147,119.

California-have invented certain newv andl useful Improvements in Attachments for Electric Switches, whereof the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to attachments for electric switches, push-buttons or the like and more directly to an attachment adapted for application to ordinary types of those devices now in use. The attachment comprises a luminous feature, the object being t0 enable the switch or button to be found readily at night, or in dark places.

In carrying out the invention, I, by preference, construct the attachment in the form of a screw with a milled head, which screw is adapted' to be substituted for one ofthe common attaching screws now in use in devices of the character mentioned. This screw of my attachment is provided with a recessed solid head, for the reception of luminous material, and is adapted to have a glass or other transparent cover applied over the Asame, which cover may be in the form of a lens when desired.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, I have illustrated my invention in the form mentioned above.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a partial sectional elevation,y

showing a recessed wall with a switch box therein, and my invention applied in the form of a screw to secure the cover-plate to the boX, in conjunction with one of the ordinary screws commonly used for that purpose.

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial cross- Y section of my attachment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top view of same with transparent cover removed. Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the milled solid head with a hole for tightening the same.

Figure 5 is a partial cross-section of my attachment in a form convenient for screwing into wood 0r similar material; and Figure 6 is a top view of the same.

Similar numerals of reference, indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, in which 1 represents a switch box of ordinary type, secured in a recess in the wall of a the building represented by 2. isthe coverplate of the switch box, secured inplace by screws 4, one of which only is shown. In place 0f the second screw corresponding to 4, my attachment 4 is applied. The attachment consists more particularly of the threaded shank 5 enlarged at one end forming a tapering neck shown clearly in Figure 2, and to which an outflaring milled head,6 is formed, these parts being one piece in structure and homogeneous; the neck of the shank being adapted to engage the sides of the usual tapered hole of the cover-plate to center the latter on` the switch. The edge of the head 6, is milled so 'that'it may be conveniently manipulated by the lingers, and which head may be made conical in form as shown, to allow free clearance for the finger in depressing the switch button 12, or it may be madelat as shown in ,Figure 4 and hexagonal as shown in Figure 6, or otherwise. Through the solid head I bore a small hole to providesuitable holding means for a convenient instrument by which the screw may be turned into binding position. The head 6 of the attachment is recessed at its face side as shown, into which recess luminous material 9 is placed, and is 'cov-V- ered and protected by a cover 10,.,which may be made of glass or othertransparent substance, to fit within .the recess.

In some cases I make a double recess, as shown, namely, f an annular and a central recess. In the annular recess 13 I place a low grade of luminous material, and in the smaller central recess 14 a higher grade. In thiscase, I also use the transparent cover lO, which may be of plane or'lens form as desired.

Having described vmy invention and an embodiment of it, it is to be understood that` the same covers all other variations in structure, which come within the spirit of the piece of material and adapted to be substituted for one of the connecting screws of theplate.

f 2. A self-luminous attachment comprising av threaded shank having a homogeneous head, a recess at the top of said head adapted to receive luminous material and a transparent cover therefor, and said head provided with a hole to receive an instrument for screwing the device in position.

3. 'An attachment, comprising a threaded shank and' a head, said head being doubly recessed,v one recess being annular and enclosing the other, said annular recess havin luminous material therein of low grade, an

said central recess having luminous material therein of a highergrade', and a transparent cover protecting both recesses.

4. An attachment, comprising a threaded shank and a head, said head having a plu- 20 rality of recesses provided with luminous material therein and a transparent wearing face for said recesses.

In testimony that L claim the foregoing,

I have hereto set my hand in the presence of 25 two Witnesses, this 6th day of Jan. 1917 MAXWELL C. FRANK. Witnesses:

LOUISE BEARDEN, FLORENCE L. WOLFE. 

